Articles By A Word from the Lord

As we begin another year, I would like to invite you to consider your health. I would like to invite you take an honest look at your choices and decisions and how they are affecting your lifestyle. The decisions we make each day regarding our health is a very spiritual issue.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 – “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God with your body. While this passage is directly speaking about sinful sexual practices and behaviors, here is the principle:Since Jesus died for you and since you have asked Him into your life, your physical body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you should honor God with your body. It should be treated with honor and respect – with reverence. I should honor God with how I treat my body.

With this in mind, I believe God wants us to make healthy choices in how we treat our bodies. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for Glory of God.” How we treat our bodies are the result of the choices that we make. Studies show that it is our choices more than our genetics that determine our health. Yes, genetics makes us more susceptible to certain diseases, but in most cases our genetics must combine with unhealthy choices and lifestyle to develop.

I realize this is not a popular subject in America these days as we are the most overweight, highly-prescribed, and sleep-deprived generation the world has known. We are making bad choices and are paying the consequences – literally with our bodies, and our brains, our relationships, and our future.

As we begin another year, I want to encourage you to examine how you are treating the most incredible gift has given you – your body. What are you doing to exercise? God made the body to move. You stop moving and you die. What are you putting in your body as food? Are you eating to live or living to eat? You are what you eat. How about sleep? Sleep is vital to renewing and revitalizing one’s body.

Do you believe God wants you to live healthy? I do!! But we must cooperate and do our part by making healthy choices. The Word of God says in Proverbs 3:7,8 – “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”Proverbs 9:10-12 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”

God has sent us an invitation with an R. S. V. P. on it. We gather on Christmas morning and open presents, gather with family and friends for a special meal, and perhaps even go to a church service on Christmas Eve. But regardless of all our activities, each of us will accept or reject the invitation from God which Christmas offers.

There is nothing wrong with ambition, nothing wrong with wanting to improve one’s lot in life, and nothing wrong with seeking after more, but not at the detriment of counting the blessings of God in your life.

The Lord God gave a promise to King Solomon that He would respond to the faithful prayers and genuine repentance of His people. Time and time again the people of God have drifted from the purposes of God and have found their nation in tremendous need. When a nation turns away from the Lord, the Lord withdraws His very Presence, and the people are “turned over” to the very evil they desire (See Romans 1) inheriting the consequences of such evil. It is as if God says to the nation: “So you don’t want me around, ok. I will withdraw from the affairs of your nation.”

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Foley Beach writes regularly for newspapers in Georgia, including The Gwinnett Citizen, The Loganville Tribune, The Walton Citizen and The Walton Tribune. His columns seek to apply Biblical principles to every day living.